Roller support adjusting device



1966 o. v. DUTRO ROLLER SUPPORT ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed- Aug. 4, 1964[III/III IN VENTOR.

ORV/1L5 1 DUTRO United States Patent ()fifice 3,289,580 ROLLER SUPPORTADJUSTING DEVICE Orviile V. Dutro, 5068 N. Commonwealth, La Canada,Calif. Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,358 12 Claims. (Cl. Nil-221)This invention relates to blanket-to-blanket rotary presses.

In web offset printing presses, there is a requirement to adjust thespacing between the centers of a pair of cylinders which contactopposite sides of a web in order to compensate for different thicknessesof paper, and blankets, thereby to control the impression. Customarilythis adjustment has been accomplished by the use of eccentric mountingsfor both plate and blanket cylinders. However, these mountings createproblems of their own, be cause when the cylinders are swung ineccentric mountings they move in an are which does not coincide with theloci of the members of a long train of cylinders and rollers which mustmake mutual contact. It is therefore necessary to go back up the trainand adjust the other cylinders and rollers. This adjustment becomes socomplex that it is frequently beyond the ability of a press operator toaccomplish successfully. Errors in such adjustment inevitably lead toreduction in quality of the printed material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for adjusting thespacing between a pair of blanket cylinders which are opposed to eachother across a web of material wherein the adjustment of the spacingbetween these cylinders can be accomplished without varying the spacingbetween the other rollers and cylinders in the train, thereby making theadjustment of the spacing of these cylinders one of great simplicity.Furthermore, the adjustment can be reduced to a simple turnbuckle, theoperation of which is clearly within the scope of the abilities of themost inexperienced press operator. Furthermore, this is attainable inmultiple-deck presses.

This device permits the necessary eccentric motion of the rollers whichabut the web to break away from the web and from the plate cylinder,while still permitting the system on each side to be maintained in adefinite, invariable relationship from operation to operation. This isaccomplished while still allowing the space between the opposed rollersto be adjusted independently of the remainder of the cylinders androllers in the system. All of this is accomplished in aneconomically-built frame construction, with the additional benefit ofreducing pressman training costs.

A device according to this invention is adapted to be utilized inconnection with a press that is supported vertically from a foundation.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two opposed andmutually-facing side plates are provided. Each of the side plates comprises two spaced-apart rigid cylinder support members. A tie memberjoins the support members and thereby forms a bight between them. Aresilient, incompressible separator member is disposed contiguous to,and beneath, the support members of each of these side plates. Theseparator members support the side plates. Adjustable spacer membersinterconnect the support members of each pair at a location verticallyspaced from the tie member. Opposed cylinder support means is carried byeach of the support members between which the cylinder can be supported.Adjusting the spacer members will vary the spacing-apart of the twosupport members and thereby adjust the spacing-apart f the cylinderswhich they are to support.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, thereare two pairs of side plates, one disposed 3,2895% Patented Dec. 6, 1966above the other. Separator members are placed beneath each of thesupport members.

According to another feature of the invention, the side members may becontinuous across their bottom regions, deleting the tie member. A splitmay be formed in an upper region to form a bight and provide for thenecessary movement between edges of the split member.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section showing an alternate embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing still another embodimentof the invention.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a press 10 of the offset type with a web 11 tobe processed which moves either upwardly or downwardly between cylinderswhich bear against it. The direction of motion of the web is vertical,and the word vertical as used herein means upwardly or downwardlyrelative to a foundation 12 upon which the press rests. FIG. 1 shows oneside of the press, it being understood that the other side is a mirrorimage thereof. Therefore, only the side shown in FIG. 1 will bedescribed in detail.

Two side plates 13, 14 are shown in FIG. 1, side plate 13 resting onfoundation l2 and side plate 14 being above and supported by side plate13. As can be seen in FIG. 3, side plates 13 and 14 are opposed by sideplates 15 and 16, respectively, with their vertical relationship asaforesaid.

Side plate 13 comprises a pair of spaced-apart rigid cylinder supportmembers 17, 18. Side plate 14 includes a pair of cylinder supportmembers 19, 20. Members 17-20 are identical, and are used in pairs asmirror images for each side plate. The same is true of side plates 15and lid. Therefore, all of the side plates may be formed simultaneouslyin a jig boring operation, which results in an accurately andexpediently manufactured structure. The cylinder support members arespaced apart by splits 21, 22. The cylinder support members are joinedtogether adjacent to their respective lower margins by tie members 23,24, 25, 2 5. The tie members are preferably L-shaped angles which extendalong the plates. Each has flanges 27, 28. As best shown in connectionwith tie member 24 the flanges are drilled appropriately to receivefastening means yet to be described. In this embodiment, the tie membersact as a bight which connects the respective pair of cylinder supportmembers. For this reason, the tie member is sometimes called a bight.

Beneath each side plate there is located a separator member 30, 31, 32,33. Each separator member comprises a layer of an elastic,incompressiblematerial such as rubber of Shore Hardness about 50. Suchrubber is able to yield elastically under substantial forces, and stillexert significant springback and physical support. Furthermore, it isable to yield somewhat in shear so as to make up for sidewise as well asvertical movements between adjacent support members. For side plateswhich have an elevation of approximately three feet and a width of about16 inches, a separator member about 1% inches thick is suitable. Thethickness of these side plates immediately contiguous to the separatormembers is ordinarily the order of about 1% inches.

Bolt sets 35 join the upper flanges of the tie members to the cylindersupport members. Bolt sets 36 join the other flange to a cantileveredportion of the separator members. Bolt sets 37 join the separatormembers either to the lower side plates or 'to the foundation,respectively.

I be seen from FIG. 2 that the side plates are vertically in line in thepreferred embodiment of the inven- 'tion and are held from sidewisemotion by bolt sets 35 and 37. It will also be seen that the flanges ofthe tie members permit the side plates to move toward and away from eachother across the gap between them and that these are also principallysupported in line with each other through the separator members.Additional strength is provided as shown in FIG. 2 by making theseparator members somewhat wider than the side plates so that a .portionthereof extends beyond the side plates in a cantilever manner to as tosupport one of the flanges of the tie member.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment for the separator member. In thisembodiment, tie member 5t) comprises a U-channel which is joined bybolts 51 to a lower 'rnargin of an upper side plate. The tie memberincludes 'a pair of arm's 52, 53 which embrace a separator member 54beneath them and also extends downwardly over the next lower side plate.This downward projection of the arms of the tie member gives additionallateral support.

FIG. 5 shows a side plate 60 which is unitary and includes its own bight61 and cylinder supporting members "62, 63 thereby flexing inherently atthe bight rather than at the tie member itself. A tie member 64 isprovided of the same construction as that shown in FIG. 1 so as to jointhe side plates to a separator member 65. In this embodiment, thefunctions of tie plate and of bight are performed by two differentelements, while in the device of FIG. 1, the tie plates are both bightand hold-down means.

Cylinders 66 are shown on opposite sides of the web and are journaled ineccentric bearings 67. Each eccentric bearing has a center 67a aroundwhich center 67b of cylinder 66 moves. This motion enables the cylinderto be withdrawn from contact with the web and with the adjoining platecylinder 68 when the press is stopped. Cylinders 69 are shown whichschematically illustrate the rest of a train of gears or rollersintended to interact with each other in the operation of the press.Element 68 is immovably journaled in the plates in the sense that thecenter of rotation cannot be laterally moved.

Adjustable spacer members 70, 71 are provided between the cylindersupport members of each side plate and the same will be provided in theembodiment of FIG. 5. These conveniently comprise turnbuckle assemblieswhich may be as simple as those shown in FIG. 1 wherein a pair ofbearing pads 72, 73 receive the end of a threaded turnbuckle bolt 74which can be turned so as to adjust the spacing between the cylindersupport means, and thereby of the cylinders 66. The pitches of thethreads at each end of the bolt are different, though of the same hand,so that there is a differential effect between them. A relatively smalladjustment can therefore be made with a fairly large turn of the bolt.Other types of spacer members such as cams, jacks, and the like, couldbe used instead of turnbuckles.

It will be appreciated from an examination of FIGS. 1 and 5 that thisarrangement is readily suitable for a press which is one or more unitshigh. Were there not to be the separator member between two stackedunits, it would be impossible to make an independent adjustment of thelower sets of cylinders 66 and of the next upper set, because change inthe adjustments of spacer member 70 would cause a change in aspacing-apart of the upper set of cylinders. However, the interpositionof the elastic separator member permits this sideward motion to be takenup by shear reaction in the separator member and thereby isolates thetwo press units from each other so that each is adjustable independentlyof the other.

There is thereby provided in a simple straightforward and easilymanufactured press assembly means for readily adjusting thespacing-apart of two individual primary cylinders in a vertical pressconstruction and also of accomplishing this in a multiple verticallystacked press construction; I

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in thedrawings and described in the description which are given by way ofexample and not of limitation but only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press adapted to be supported vertically from a foundation, saidpress being of the class wherein a pair of cylinders is rotatablymounted so as to contact the opposite sides of a web, the improvementcomprising: two opposed and mutually facing side plates, each of saidside plates comprising two spaced-apart rigid cylinder support members,a bight joining the support members of each pair adjacent to a lowermargin thereof; a resilient, incompressible separator member contiguousto and disposed beneath and supporting the support members of each sideplate; and adjustable spacer member interconnecting the support membersof each pair at a location vertically spaced from the bight member; andopposed cylinder support means carried by each of said support membersand adapted to journal a cylinder to the cylinder support means, wherebyadjusting the spacer members varies the spacing-apart of the two supportmembers and thereby adjusts the spacing-apart of the cylinders whichthey support.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the separator members aremade of rubber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the separator members aremade of rubber, and in which the bights are joined to both respectivesupport members and separator member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the spacer members compriseturnbuckle assemblies.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there are provided two pairsof side plates, the side plates of each pair being vertically stacked,there being a bight and a separator member adjacent to the lower marginof each side plate.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the separator members aremade of rubber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the separator members aremade of rubber, and in which the bights are joined to both respectivesupport members and separator member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the spacer members compriseturnbuckle assemblies.

9. In a press adapted to be supported vertically from a foundation, saidpress being of the class wherein pairs of cylinders are rotatablymounted so as to contact the opposite sides of a web, the improvementcomprising: two pairs of opposed and mutually facing side plates, eachof said side plates having a split and a bight, there being a spacingbetween the edges of the split, and the bight providing limitedflexibility in order that the edges may be moved toward and away fromeach other; a resilient, incompressible separator member contiguous toand disposed beneath and supporting each side plate; adjustable spacermembers bridging the split and joining the respective opposite sidesthereof at a location vertically spaced from the separator member;cylinder support means carried by each of said side plates and adaptedto journal a cylinder to the cylinder support means, whereby adjustingthe spacer members varies the width of the split and thereby adjusts thespacing-apart of the cylinders which they support.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the separator members aremade of rubber.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the separator members aremade of rubber, and in which the bights are joined to both respectivesupport members and separator member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the spacer 2,133,459 10/1938 Livingston 101220 members comprise turnbuckle assemblies. 3,072,0501/ 1963 Wolflf 101180 X References Cited by the Exammer WILLIAM B. PENN,Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,306,726 6/1919 Smith 101 420 X ROBERT PULFREY f2,015,658 10/1935 Bezzenberger 101142 X W D Assista t xaminer.

T A Mm-m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,289,580 December 6, 1966 Orville V. Dutro It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 20, for "and" read an line 62, strike out "respective";line 63, after "the" insert respective Signed and sealed this 19th dayof September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNE] Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A PRESS ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED VERTICALLY FROM A FOUNDATION, SAIDPRESS BEING OF THE CLASS WHEREIN A PAIR OF CYLINDERS IS ROTATABLYMOUNTED SO AS TO CONTACT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WEB, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING: TWO OPPOSED AND MUTUALLY FACING SIDE PLATES, EACH OF SAIDSIDE PLATES COMPRISNG TWO SPACED-APART RIGID CYLINDER SUPPORT MEMBERS, ABIGHT JOINING THE SUPPORT MEMBERS OF EACH PAIR ADJACENT TO A LOWERMARGIN THEREOF; A RESILIENT, INCOMPRESSIBLE SEPARATOR MEMBER CONTIGUOUSTO AND DISPOSED BENEATH AND SUPPORTING THE SUPPORT MEMBERS OF EACH SIDEPLATE; AND ADJUSTABLE SPACER MEMBER INTERCONNECTING THE SUPPORT MEMBERSOF EACH PAIR AT A LOCATION VERTICALLY SPACED FROM THE BIGHT MEMBER; ANDOPPOSED CYLINDER SUPPORT MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERSAND ADAPTED TO JOURNAL A CYLINDER TO THE CYLINDER SUPPORT MEANS, WHEREBYADJUSTING THE SPACER MEMBERS VARIES THE SPACING-APART OF THE TWO SUPPORTMEMBERS AND THEREBY ADJUSTS THE SPACING-APART OF THE CYLINDERS WHICHTHEY SUPPORT.